“Do heart stents last forever?”

not really. If one has drug eluting stent, it is supposed to keep the artery open for a while. We do not use Bare metal stent very often since it is not the best. On some occasions , we use them. If patient does not take 2 antiplatlet agents for 1 year,( mandatory) & continue either aspirin or plavix for the rest of the years, it is high chance for the stent to close. Of course, keeping LDL level under 70. & No smoking will keep the stent patent for a while.

Mine do! Just kidding. The new drug coated stents are very good. The bigger the stent placed the better the longevity. Other factors that may cause stents to close is smoking, uncontrolled diabetes, non-compliance with blood thinners etc. the longer a stent stays open the more likely it will be fine long term.

They may last from 2-10 years depending on smoking, diabetes control (if you are diabetic), control of cholesterol, and taking Plavix or whatever thinner they prescribe. I have seen some blocks in a year and some out to 18 years, but rarely.

It depends, they get blocked and have to be cleaned out, maybe replaced.